Free Hamlet Essays: Loneliness in Hamlet

Loneliness in Hamlet

Everyone faces loneliness and despair in their lives. In today’s world people may feel misunderstood or isolated. In Hamlet, much of the loneliness and suffering he endures is due to the secrets and betrayals he is forced to keep. There were many instances where Hamlet felt alone and upset but he could not share his pain with anyone else. This was a factor that added to his suffering. We can also find many examples of Hamlet’s despair due to betrayal from his so called friends. All of these factors not only contributed heavily to his depression, but caused his overall demise.

Throughout the play, Hamlet discovers who is loyal to him and who his real enemies are. Right away, Hamlet dislikes his uncle. He is already distraught over losing his father but on top of that he has to deal with the marriage of his beloved mother to his uncle, who he perceives as being cruel and cold-hearted. "A little more than kin, and less than kind." (I; ii; 65) This is Hamlets first line in the play, which clearly demonstrates the extreme hatred Hamlet has towards his uncle. Hamlet also feels intense betrayal from his mother. He trusted her and feels like she has disregarded any love she ever felt towards her former husband. " Mother, you have my father much offended." (III; iv; 11) " A bloody deed-almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. (III; iv; 29-30). Hamlet is revolted by the idea of his uncle and his mother married.

Hamlet also encounters loneliness and despair from Ophelia. As part of Hamlet’s "plan" to put on an antic disposition he distances himself from Ophelia who he is actually in love with. He does this by insulting her and convincing her that he is mad and never had any true feelings for her. "I loved you not" (III; i; 117) "Get thee to a nunnery......Marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them" (III; i; 135-137) Hamlet also kills Polonius (by mistake thinking it was Claudius). Both of these incidents cause Ophelia a great deal of grief and so she kills herself. Hamlet is of course devastated because he never actually meant to hurt her. "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum.